The Dead End Kids started in the movie in 1937's Dead End (d'oh.) They later appeared in various incarnations as the Little Tough Guys, East Side Kids, and Bowery Boys.
They Made Me A Criminal (1939) was John Garfield's first starring role. We lost him too soon at age 39. I wish I had seen him with Bette Davis other than when they were playing themselves in Hollywood Canteen and Thank Your Lucky Stars.
Back to They Made Me a Criminal, Johnnie is a boxer left to take the blame when he's black out drunk and his manager kills someone. He hits the road and ends up at a ranch for delinquent kids (guess who.) He sacrifices his freedom to return to the boxing ring to earn money for the ranch, knowing that a New York cop (Claude Rains) is waiting to arrest him.
So, it's a bit unrealistic that Claude Rains who so doggedly pursues Johnny, lets him go at the end of the picture, but I don't care. He deserves a break.
Angels Wash Their Faces puts the gang back in their usual New York City setting. This time they're joined by Gabe Ryan (Frankie Thomas) who's recently been released from juvenile detention. He and his sister Joy (Ann Sheridan) are looking for a new start. Unfortunately Gabe is a prime target for framing for arson by Martino (Eduardo Ciannelli) and his gang.
The movie seems disjointed: the first half focuses on Gabe until he is jailed, and the second half focuses on Billy (Billy Halop) the leader of the Kids and their attempts to free Gabe. The Kids ultimately succeed via Billy's appointment as mayor for a week.
It was fun to see Frankie Thomas and Bonita Granville together but not as Ted and Nancy. Also, watch for Marjorie Main. She's brilliant in a small role as the mother of the Kid killed in an arson fire.
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